The gorodskoy golova (or mayor) was an elected position in the Russian Empire, a trusted representative of the townspeople who advocated their interests before government agencies and the head of the municipal government. According to the City Regulations of 1862 and 1870, the gorodskoy golova was elected by people for four years from two candidates (from candidates of all classes who were at least 30 years old and owned property worth at least 15,000 rubles) and was approved by the emperor.
The design of the chain of office presented in the museum’s exhibition was approved by Emperor Alexander II in 1871. In the center of the medal is the city’s coat of arms, encircled with the title of the position. The reverse side features the date of reform “June 16, 1870”. On the obverse of the chain of office of the Simbirsk gorodskoy golova is a relief image of the coat of arms of the Simbirsk Governorate. Around the coat of arms is the inscription: “Simbirsk gorodskoy golova”, on the back — “June 11, 1892.”
On June 11 (23), 1892, Emperor Alexander III gave the Senate a personal highest decree on the introduction of a new City Regulation. The new government policy was aimed at weakening the elective principle in municipal institutions, limiting their independence and including them in the system of government bodies. The executive body of the city public administration, established according to the City Regulations of 1870, was the town council, which was headed by the mayor (gorodskoy golova). The Simbirsk town council was established in 1871 and existed until February 1918.
In March 1871, a hereditary honorary citizen P.A. Yegorov was elected the mayor of Simbirsk. By the regulation of 1892, the number of council members was limited to three people elected by the city duma. The following issues fell under the jurisdiction of the city duma and town council: managing the municipal capital and property, improving the city environment, providing for food and health of the residents, taking care of the poor and carrying out other charity work, providing fire protection, and making provisions for the development of the public education system and local industry and trade. From 1909 to 1917, Leonid Ivanovich Afanasyev was the mayor of Simbirsk. During these years, Simbirsk went through significant transformations: the reform of the town council system, the improvement of many streets, the launch of a power station, the reconstruction of the water supply system. From 1913 to 1916, a railway bridge was built across the Volga in Simbirsk.
